Two kingdoms
bullet Clement of Rome (30 - 100 CE) was an overseer of the church at Rome. 3 He urged his followers to try to be among those who wait for the Lord "by doing the things that are in harmony with His blameless will." bullet Polycarp (69 - 156) was an overseer of the church at Smyrna. He said that we will be resurrected when we die "if we do His will and walk in His commandments..." 4 bullet Hermas (? to 150) Little is known about his background. He wrote that only those who "fear the Lord and keep His commandments" will have eternal life. 5 bullet Justin Martyr (110 - 165) was a philosopher who converted to Christianity as an adult. He wrote that "if men by their works show themselves worthy of His design, they are deemed worthy of reigning in company with Him." 6 bullet Clement of Alexandria (150 - 200) was an elder of the church at Alexandria, Egypt. He wrote that only individuals who obtain the truth and "distinguishes himself in good works" shall gain eternal life. 7 bullet Origen (185 - 255) was an elder of the church at Alexandria, Egypt. He wrote that a soul would inherit eternal life if its "actions shall have procured this for it..." 8 bullet Hippolytus (170 - 236) was an overseer in a church in France. He said that Christians achieve "for themselves eternal life through good works." 9 Once in heaven, they will only remember "the righteous deeds by which they reached the heavenly kingdom." 10 bullet Cyprian (200 - 258) was overseer of the church in Carthage, North Africa. He wrote that a person can prophesy, conduct exorcisms and do "great acts." But he will not get to heaven "unless he walks in the observance of the right and just way." 11 bullet Lactantius (260 - 330) was a Roman teacher who lived in France. He wrote that a person either loses eternal life because of sinful behavior, or gains it by their virtue. 12
Many of the above writings can be seen in the Early Christian Writings. 13
The Didache is subtitled "The teaching of the Lord by the Twelve Apostles to the Gentiles." It was written for the guidance of Christians circa 60 to 100 CE. Some theologians believe that "additions and modifications may have taken place well into the third century." 14 It contains 16 paragraphs, which deal with such topics as: bullet loving behavior towards your neighbor, enemies and persecutors; bullet abstaining from lusts bullet giving away what you posses to the needy bullet do not murder, commit adultery, fornication, theft, abortion, infanticide bullet do not be prone to anger bullet do not engage in sorcery, witchcraft, enchanting, astrology bullet share all things with your brother bullet do not eat food that was sacrifice to idols bullet baptize in living water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. bullet fast on the 4th day of the week bullet recite the Our Father prayer three times a day. bullet beware of false prophets bullet elect honorable Christians to be bishops and deacons. bullet be ready at all times for the second coming of Jesus, which they expected would come soon.
All of the instructions relate to an individual's behavior. This tends to confirm that the early church considered works to be of paramount importance.
horizontal rule References:
C.S. Clifton, "Encyclopedia of Heresies and Heretics", ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara CA, (1992) D.W. Bercot, "Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up: A New Look at Today's Evangelical Church in the Light of Early Christianity," Scroll Publishing, Tyler, TX, (1989), Pages 63-72. Clement of Rome, "Letter to the Corinthians," Chapters 34 & 35. Polycarp, "Letter to the Philippians," Chapter 2. Hermas, "Shepherd," Book 2, Comm. 7; Book 3, Sim. 10, Chapter 2. Justin Martyr, "First Apology," Chapter 10 Clement of Alexandria, "Rich Man," Chapters 1 & 2. Origen, "Of First Things," Preface, Chapter 5. Hippolytus, "Fragments from Commentaries," "On Proverbs" Hippolytus, "Against Plato," Section 3. Cyprian, "Unity of the Church," Section 15. Lactantius, "Institutes," Book 7, chapter 5. Early Christian Writings is at http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/ The Didache is at: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_save.htm
http://www.jesuswordsonly.com/books/77-bercot.html
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https://relate4ever.wordpress.com/2014/10/10/what-the-early-christians-believed-with-david-bercot/